Qatar strengthened the case for Aprilia’s competitiveness, while also exposing the points the team has left on the table during the season. Massimo Rivola reviewed the weekend by focusing on Sprint management, the contact between Marco Bezzecchi and Marc Marquez, and the motorcycle’s broader development.

Sprint management and the Bezzecchi–Marquez contact

Rivola’s criticism began with the format itself. He said there are too many Sprint races and that Aprilia must become more effective at managing the complete race weekend. Speed alone is not enough when it fails to produce the full points return that the performance should make possible.

Regarding Saturday’s incident, Rivola said Bezzecchi was not at fault. He also questioned how the Steward Panel evaluates situations of this kind. The starting point, in the approach he described, should be identifying which of the two riders could have avoided the contact. Rivola agreed that Marquez had more to lose, but stressed that this does not determine responsibility for the incident itself.

Why Rivola remains encouraged

Despite the missed points, Rivola described Aprilia’s position as a glass half full. He highlighted the work being done by the company, the continued development of the motorcycle and the progress of its riders. In his view, having genuine speed and room to improve is preferable to dealing with a slow motorcycle and slow riders. That is why he remains optimistic about Aprilia’s future.

The manufacturers’ championship remains an Aprilia target, and Rivola said two races are still to come. He also explained that the teams’ championship is based on the combined points scored by both riders, comparing it with the manufacturers’ championship in Formula 1. The points lost during the season, he argued, should become a lesson for the future rather than simply a source of frustration.

When the championship battle with Ducati was discussed, Rivola framed it not as a title Aprilia had lost, but as one Marc Marquez had won. He credited Marquez with making the difference through effective weekend management, scoring 37 points when he judged the opportunity was there and bringing home results at the most difficult circuits. Aprilia’s task now is to turn the speed it has shown into a more consistent points haul.